Abstract
In order to realize a clean energy society by using renewable energies, high-performance solar cells are a very attractive proposition. The development of high-performance solar cells offers a promising pathway toward achieving high power per unit cost for many applications. As state-of-the-art of single-junction solar cells are approaching the Shockley-Queisser limit of 32%-33%, an important strategy to raise the efficiency of solar cells further is stacking solar cell materials with different bandgaps to absorb different colors of the solar spectrum. The III-V semiconductor materials provide a relatively convenient system for fabricating multi-junction solar cells providing semiconductor materials that effectively span the solar spectrum as demonstrated by world record efficiencies (39.2% under one-sun and 47.1% under concentration) for six-junction solar cells. This success has inspired attempts to achieve the same with other materials like perovskites for which lower manufacturing costs may be achieved. Recently, Si multi-junction solar cells such as III-V/Si, II-VI/Si, chalcopyrite/Si, and perovskite/Si have become popular and are getting closer to economic competitiveness. Here, we discuss the perspectives of multi-junction solar cells from the viewpoint of efficiency and low-cost potential based on scientific and technological arguments and possible market applications. In addition, this article provides a brief overview of recent developments with respect to III-V multi-junction solar cells, III-V/Si, II-VI/Si, perovskite/Si tandem solar cells, and some new ideas including so-called 3rd generation concepts.
Original language | American English |
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Article number | 240901 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Journal of Applied Physics |
Volume | 129 |
Issue number | 24 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 28 Jun 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2021 Author(s).
NREL Publication Number
- NREL/JA-5900-79512
Keywords
- chalcopyrite
- CIGS
- CZTS
- III-V
- multijunction
- perovskite
- photovoltaic
- PV
- solar cell